I’ve noticed there is a slight spring in my steps lately as winter has faded and summer is just around the corner. Spring is one of my very favorite times of the year. We can shed layers and spruce up our wardrobe. I like to invest in a few pieces each season that are quality and style merged together. Two local design sources for my wardrobe that never disappoint, are Freda Salvador for shoes and The Podolls for my clothes and accessories. Freda Salvador shoes are not only beautiful, but they are the most comfortable shoes you can find. I wear them to dress up or to walk to the park with my son. The attention to detail is astounding – small strips of leather on each heal, hand nailed edges, and the woven tops are a work of art. I rely on my Freda Salvador shoes to take many of my outfits to the next level, especially these called the WISH. For my clothing, I like to have a few special pieces that I can use for several years. This year, I turned to The Podolls for my selection. I got this stunner of a silk tank that not only fits like a glove, but also is cut in a way that is flattering. I can’t think of a better investment to transition from spring to summer. Be sure to pop over to my instagram to check out the amazing giveaway with Freda Salvador! Photos by Andrea Posadas for Sacramento Street #style

This time of year the flowers are in abundance – peonies, iris’, garden roses, flowering branches – you name it! It is by far my favorite time for flowers. Although it makes it quite hard to decide what to highlight here for all of you. Thank goodness Natalie has an incredible eye for what works well together. This spring arrangement has some of my favorites – I just wish the iris photo was a scratch and sniff. Enjoy this months installment! What florals or greens do you like to use during this funky Spring/Summer transitional period? ALL of them! Ha. The transition between Spring and Summer is one of my favorites. For a couple of short weeks we see peonies and roses used at the same time and this seems almost crazy. In early May the buckeye blooms and I like to sue it in everything. It have beautiful foliage and soft pink plums that pair wonderfully with every other flower this time of year, yet they can stand alone perfectly, too. What sort of fillers do you recommend when you want your arrangement to feel robust but not tacky? The buckeye I mentioned above is perfect as a Springtime filler that feels abundant yet not as if it is even filler. The key is to find greens that don’t feel like filler but actually feel like a textural element that lends to movement and leads the eye throughout the arrangement. I have been also loving catoneaser, as it is blooming this time of year and honeysuckle! I can’t use enough honeysuckle. What are some good tips you have on how to know what sort of florals go well together aesthetically? I find that paying attention to size differentiation is a key to making an interesting arrangement. When all the flowers are the same size, it is hard to have any one flower stand out. When the flowers are small, medium and large, your eye will move from one flower to the next, allowing each to have a moment to shine. It’s not so much about the varieties as it is about the size, texture and color. When playing with multiple colors in one arrangement be sure to give attention to the “bridge color”. That color is the one that links the two opposing colors so that they seem to flow and blend rather than oppose one another. With wedding season about to be in full swing, what are some floral trends we can expect to see this yet? I’m starting to see arrangements come back in to a more contained look and I’ve heard fewer requests for wild arrangements. I’m seeing a continuation of the trend to use color (which makes me so happy) and we’ll see a lot of blush/peach/coral and burgundy/oxblood paired this year. To get inspired by past Blooms in Season posts – click here. Flowers by Natalie Bowen Designs | Images by Caitlin Flemming for Sacramento Street #lifestyle

One of the areas of my home that is in constant need of an upgrade is my office. As a decorator, my office is often the temporary home of a whole host of items: boxes filled with products to install in my clients home, a plethora of fabric samples, and the occasional can of paint. There are times I’d like to just blow it up and start completely over with a new look. When I had a glimpse at the new HP Spectre Laptop, my mind nearly exploded – this was the inspiration I needed to begin to tackle this project. The touch of copper and sleek lines inspired me into the direction I hoped for in this project. Recently, I’ve been attracted to things with a copper flair. I’m not one who would necessarily want copper pots in my kitchen (too much upkeep) but I like a hint of it in décor. Copper has warmth to it and at the same time seems modern and current. I started with a few accessories in my office but I could also see expanding it to more substantial objects too. As with any new idea, I like to start with a mood board that helps me to visualize the spirit of the ideas I have floating around in my head. The next step is to put together the items that I might include in the room. This room anatomy is how I would build an office with this “hint” of copper. Not over the top, but an elegant touch of copper. What I love the most in this concept is the computer that works so beautifully with the warmth of copper. The new HP Spectre has clean lines, is super thin, and actually draws inspiration from high-end furniture. The computer not only functions flawlessly, but it melds perfectly in a beautifully designed room. Take a look more closely on their ‘Making Of’ video. Resources HP Computer | Copper Pot & Succulent | Chair | Desk | Picture Frames | Clock | Task Lamp | Copper Binder Clips | Rug | Trashcan So now that I’ve conceived the new office, it's time to shake it up and improve how it looks and how it functions. This is definitely a project I can get excited about! This post is a partnership with HP Spectre. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Moodboard Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 || Client Project Image by Caitlin Flemming #interiors

Each season I try to invest in a wardrobe piece that I consider an investment and plan to use for years to come. One place I always turn to are the clothes designed by The Podolls. I was mesmerized when I walked into their shop recently. Their spring season draws inspiration from ropes, knots, weaving and the work of Ruth Asawa. I chose the Shift Dress. I love that the fabric is hand loomed and hand woven on a loom that operates without electrical power. While the process is slow and tedious, that is what creates the irregular texture that makes this piece so perfect. The Shift Dress has simplicity of form and depth of texture that recalls the iconic woven wire sculptures of Asawa. What I love about the simple lines in this dress is that not only is it comfortable, but I can dress it up with accessories or slide it on for a quick meeting with a client. It not only feels great since it’s made of a silk/cotton fiber, but it looks great. This is the kind of clothes that I love to invest in. Of course, I couldn’t get out the door without also buying an incredible bucket purse made by The Podolls. It’s the supplest leather and is so comfortable on my shoulder. It’s made locally which also makes it something I can feel good about investing in. Outfit Details Shift Dress | Purse (call stores for inquiry) | Flats Head to one of their shops, either in Noe Valley or Burlingame, to see all of their spring collection. Just stepping into the beauty they’ve created, filled me with inspiration! Photos by Andrea Posadas for Sacramento Street #style

Happy Friday! Let me tell you – I’m thrilled it’s the weekend. Between schlepping, organizing, and installing in a couple client projects I’m more than ready to kick up my feet this weekend. Last weekend felt like summer, which we enjoyed outside relishing every moment. This weekend looks a bit more gloomy – it’s not quite time to put away our think sweaters. If you are staying cozy indoors like us be sure to check out some of my favorite articles from this week. Have a lovely weekend everyone! xx Weekend Links This San Francisco home has me wanting outdoor space. If you don’t have a green thumb – maybe this is the plant for you. I’ll be making this salad for a lunch date this weekend – I can’t get enough of corn! Now this is a DIY I might be able to pull off. Interesting article about one of the hardest issues parents have to make. Ever wonder how you should frame photography? Find out how over on Rue. Currently coveting all of these swoon-worthy items. #lifestyle

Beauty products have never been something I’ve been interested in – I’m actually quite the skeptic when it comes to trying new products. Since high school I’ve used the same brands because every time I tried something new I’d break out. Then came motherhood and my skin completely changed on me. So I started the hunt for new products that would keep my skin clear so I wouldn’t have to wear a lot of makeup (I’m a minimalist when it comes to that). Then I discovered True Botanicals and my skin care dreams came true. No joke, it transformed my skin to even better than before I became a mom. I feel as though I look younger and healthier since I started to use their line of products. The founder, Hillary Peterson, was looking for an all-natural skincare after a diagnosis with cancer. When she realized how few products were available that were all natural, she made the decision to fill the niche for non-toxic, high-performing products that help smooth lines and wrinkles without the use of chemicals. I’m so careful about what I eat, how much sleep I get, and making sure to exercise, but I never once thought about what I put on my skin. I started learning about the toxins in products and I was converted immediately with the results I saw and knowing exactly what was going on my skin. Today, I’m thrilled to share the True Botanicals workspace and shop with all of you. Their mission and passion for bringing everyone an all-natural skincare is truly incredibly. How was True Botanicals born? What was your inspiration for the brand? I became aware of toxic exposure through our everyday products when research such as the umbilical cord blood study by the EWG confirmed that much of what goes on your skin is absorbed into your body. When I looked around, the options for luxurious and safe products were slim. I realized that this was an opportunity I had to pursue. It is so rewarding to set a higher bar for beauty — our personal care routines should be transformative, luxurious and safe – for humans as well as the environment. Why is it important for us to be considering what’s in the products we put on our skin? Our skin is our largest organ and when we apply products made with toxic ingredients we are literally feeding them to our bodies. Not only does feeding our skin with potent ingredients from nature transform our skin, it also literally nourishes our bodies. What are some of the most effective natural ingredients you use in your products? I am a huge fan of the cold pressed seed oils that we use liberally in our products. They are loaded with the EFAs and anti-oxidants that are essential to aging gracefully. Carrot seed oil (wildcrafted): Used for centuries to rejuvenate and regenerate skin tissues, carrot seed oil is loaded with nutrients Camellia (Green Tea) seed oil (organic): Highly moisturizing and emollient, this oil rich in antioxidants, reduces inflammation (aka puffiness) and the free radicals that cause premature aging. Blackberry seed oil (organic): High in Vitamin C, this antioxidant-rich oil helps repair fine lines and like other berry seed oils is highly therapeutic. Chia seed and kiwi seed oils: Chia seeds are the best natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids, and kiwi seeds are not far behind. Omega-3 fatty acids help strengthen cell membranes’ barriers. Good barrier protective function means water and nutrients can enter the cells while toxins are kept out. What are some “natural skincare myths” you’d like to bust? There are so many! First and foremost, I want beauty shoppers to know that ingredients created in a lab are not more potent than carefully researched and curated ingredients from nature. When we think of our bodies, it is clear that whole ingredients from nature are the most nourishing. The same is true for our skin. What keeps you most excited about your work? It is so rewarding to think of a skin issue that we want to solve, for example redness, wrinkles or adult acne, to put a lot of energy into creating a product and then to hear from customers that they have never had a product work so well for them. We get incredible e-mails and calls form customers and it makes our work so meaningful. For those who are just starting to make the switch to natural skincare, what products to you recommend starting with? We always recommend that new customers start with one of our face oils because they balance the skin and give back that healthy glow that is lost over the years. We have anti-aging face oil for every type of skin so that we can address the needs normal, ultra sensitive or blemish-prone skin. Layering one of our face serum over the face oil is a great second step. Our powerhouse face serums seal in moisture and repair cellular damage. I hope you enjoyed getting to know the beautiful mission behind True Botanicals – I highly recommend popping over to their site. For past workspace features, pop over here to get inspired! Photography by Ali Hartwell for Sacramento Street #interiors #lifestyle

As most of you have probably figured out, I have a wardrobe that is simple and relatively monochromatic. I don’t want to have to think to hard about what I’m going to wear. I like clothes that are not only have classic lines, but they need to be comfortable and versatile. One place I continue to return to for my basics is Everlane. There are several reasons why I love their clothes. To begin with, they are the BEST quality. I usually go for the cashmere sweaters and let me tell you, they are so well made. No nasty pilling and the cuts are so flattering. Then comes style. I always feel as though the pieces I buy from Everlane are made beautifully and I’ll look current. Finally, with a lifestyle that spans from needing to look dressed up for client meetings to running after Jackson, Everlane is able to work for both. Now that’s my kind of wardrobe! Recently, I added a few new pieces to my growing Everlane collection – a dress, two sweaters and a pair of their sandals. All of which, I’ve been able to use in so many ways. With the ever-changing climate in San Francisco, sweaters are necessary year round. I’ve found layering my outfits allows me to adapt to changes in weather. It might start out foggy and cold but as the fog lifts, it can be hot! By having on layers, I can just peal of a layer and still be comfortable. Outfit Details The Cashmere Crew | The Cashmere Cardigan | Silk Tank Dress | Italian Slingback Sandal If you are looking for well-made items that will become staples of your wardrobe, Everlane is the place! Do you have a favorite go-to brand for your wardrobe staples? #style

First and foremost, the classes Jackson takes are the best investment. They get him interacting with other littles, he gets to see them doing certain things he hasn’t done and then tries it, and most importantly gets him out of the house. Each week we go to music, story time at our local library, toddler play, and now that he’s a little older there is a class called messy play – yes, we have a class where he can go wild with paint, water, spaghetti, you name it. I thank DayOne everyday for this class because it saves my house from getting messy! Watching Jackson learn and develop in front of me is probably one of the most amazing things I’ve experienced. Seeing him figure something out and light up inside (plus get our approval) is truly incredible. Although now when he does something (like put a ball in the basketball hoop) he claps for himself, so maybe we give him a little too much confidence. Here are a few of my favorite toys & activities we loved for different ages: Newborn to 3 Months This stage is more about sensory and eye contact. Soft books that make sounds, mobiles, rattles, and a mirror were our favorites. 3 – 6 Months There is that ah-ha moment when your little discovers how much fun it is to use their own hands to reach for things. This was when we could let him play with an activity bar for quite awhile – it entertained him for enough time one could actually change (I’d say that’s a bonus!). We started reading to Jackson every single night from when he was a newborn but at 3 months we transitioned him into his own room and created a nighttime routine, this entailed reading one book before bed. At this age (and still today) he loves board books. They are easy to flip and are delicious to chew one. 6 – 9 Months These three months for me went by way too quickly. He went from sitting, to crawling, to standing in no time. It’s as though you blink and poof they suddenly skip over to this little kid. For me the sitting and playing stage only lasted 3 weeks…this was my favorite stage because they can play but not move. But seeing him realize that he can go places was pretty incredible. He was entertained by books, blocks, his Fisher Price activity walker, and balls. One of Jackson’s favorite games at this age was peak-a-boo. He would put any blanket over his head to start it himself. By far our favorite game still at 16 months old. 9 – 12 Months The mobile stage – is a game changer. Since Jackson was so active, in our baby play class the teacher suggested doing little obstacles. Giving him a cardboard box to climb into to see if he could get out. Some of his favorite toys were not toys – bowls, water bottles, spoons, boxes, measuring cups – you don’t have to have a huge amount of toys because it’s the non-toys that Jackson always wants to play with. 12 – 15 Months Boy has the past four months been a blast. Once Jackson got really confident with walking it’s changed the way he’s been able to explore. He can walk the Discovery Museum and Academy of Sciences (two of our favorite places), we build things, shoot hoops, and talk to his animals. This stage has been such fun and I know it’s going to continue to be. Now, one last thing we do each evening that’s part of our bedtime routine – naked time. After his nightly bath we both sit in his room with him for 10-20 minutes as he runs around (naked) and plays with his books, basketball and animals. It is his favorite time of the night, plus it tires him out for bed! There are so many different ways to play with your kid at every age. Be sure to check out how these fabulous other moms play with their kiddos: The Effortless Chic | Apartment 34 | Could I Have That | Parker Etc | Sarah Sherman Samuel | Our Style Stories | Ave Styles | The Refined Woman | A Daily Something And you can also check out our past Real Moms posts on sleeping, being a working mom, self-care and travel here! Photo by Claire Giffen #lifestyle

To say the least, I’m always in awe of the arrangements that Natalie puts together. It looks as though it were effortless but it definitely isn’t. She has a discerning eye and is able to mix the perfect flowers and greenery together. This month, the bouquet is an explosion of Spring flowers. They’re not only fragrant, but also lovely, balanced, and make me smile with every glance. I feel as if they evoke the English countryside after a spring rain (a girl can dream, can’t she?). The flowers are also perfectly paired with my collection of Shakespeare plays next to them. See how Natalie puts this together and try a bouquet at home – mix the spring flowers you can find – I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. 1.) Tell us a little about the types of florals you used in this arrangement. What inspired the mix? I felt inspired to have a little more contrast in this month’s selection of blooms. Springtime is filled with so many wonderful colors and I wanted to celebrate those. When I was first choosing the flowers I was drawn to the blue in the muscari and muddy purple in the fritilaria. Then, I added the ranunculus as I felt they picked up the center of the frit and daffodils and made the whole combination more vibrant. 2.) Spring floral arrangements are often very cliche… How do you go about breaking the mold during this season? I find that so much of it is about color and texture selection. If you use soft pinks, I’d round out the colors with more vibrent tones so that it doesn’t feel too babyish. If you use soft fluffy flowers, pair them with denser blooms for contrast. 3.) What are some of your other springtime favorite florals that we should have on our radar? All of them! Spring is so special because most of the flowers are only available at this time. Unlike so many other varieties that can be cultivated throughout the year, these springtime blooms are only available in their short seasons. Other flowers that I cannot get enough of right now are clematis, spirea, cherry branches, dogwood, anemones, and sweet pea. 4.) What’s the best way to keep an arrangement like this alive and looking fresh? The trick with lilac is to smash the ends of their woody stems so that they can take on more moisture. On the other hand, daffodils and ranunculus like only a couple inches of water. When mixing flowers with such different personalities I favor the flower needing more water and then try and not submerge the stems of the more delicate flowers. The nature of spring blooms is that some flowers have fleeting lives and only las a few days (daffodils, forget me knot, muscari, dogwood) and some will last quite some time if you get them when they are fresh (cherry blossoms, lilac). To get inspired by past Blooms in Season posts – click here. Flowers by Natalie Bowen Designs | Images by Ali Hartwell for Sacramento Street #lifestyle

Over the past year I’ve had chia seed pudding a handful of times at friends houses and out for breakfast, but never had the courage to try making it on my own. It’s just one of the recipes I thought would be a little too difficult for me to figure out. It just so happens I was incredibly wrong. Amanda – like every recipe she creates – makes it seem effortless and simple. Plus, she makes it the night before so that in the morning it’s ready to go for those of you running out the door or have kids swirling around you. This is my new morning treat, especially with berries coming back at the farmers market. Enjoy! Chia Seed Pudding Ingredients ¼ cup chia seeds 1 (13 oz.) can coconut milk 2 Tbs. water 2 Tbs. maple syrup Assorted toppings such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, pomegranate seeds, chopped pecans, coconut chips, maple syrup and ground cinnamon. Directions 1.) Combine chia seeds, coconut milk, water and maple syrup in a large mason jar. Shake well. Refrigerate chia seed mixture overnight or until the mixture becomes creamy and thick. 2.) Serve chia seed pudding topped with assorted fruits, nuts, coconut chips, maple syrup and cinnamon. Recipe & Photos by Amanda Frederickson #entertaining #cooking